Category - Star Wars

Summary from Comixology: “Bred on hate, fear, and anger…steeped in the ways of darkness…and trained to kill. Darth Maul’s time as apprentice to Darth Sidious has long been cloaked in shadows, but at last we will reveal his tale of revenge. From writer Cullen Bunn (DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE, WOLVERINE) and artist Luke Ross (STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, HERCULES) comes a tale of rage unleashed as Darth Maul prepares for his first encounter with the Jedi.”

I remember being six when Star Wars Episode I: The Phanom Menace first came out, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever (I know… I know…). The movie starred a young kid, my age, podracing, and one bad ass Sith. From the minute I saw Darth Maul, I was intimidated. The black and red face, the horns, the double-edged lightsaber, and the fact that Darth Maul was extremely quiet just added to his brooding nature.

If any writer was born to write Darth Maul, it’s Cullen Bunn. Bunn is just one of those writers that just does a great job with a villainous and anti-hero characters. He’s written Sinestro and Lobo for DC, and he has worked on Magneto and Deadpool for Marvel. He just has a natural ability with capturing the darker and more brooding characters. In the Phantom Menace, Darth Maul doesn’t say much; but, in the first issue of the mini-series he has quite a bit of dialogue. Darth Maul struggles with some inner demons and frustration directed at Darth Sidious, since he feels Maul is not ready to complete his apprenticeship.

When it comes to the art in this book it tends to, at times, look a little more cartoony than the rest of the Star Wars books (not including Princes Leia) have looked, and I certainly don’t mean that in a negative context. The cartoon feel actually adds a great amount of depth to the book and makes some of the scenes all that more bad ass. The book actually starts with Darth Maul hunting two of the most dangerous creatures in the galaxy, Rathtars(space octopus eyeball looking things). Darth Maul takes two of these beasts down in a couple swings of an ax, and its a great start to the series and helps show vicious Maul truly is. Luke Ross does an incredible job with the character designs for the leader of the Trade Federation, and also background characters on Coruscant.

Bunn and Ross make a fantastic team, and this is leading up to be one of my favorite Star Wars mini-series. As I mentioned before Bunn does a fantastic job capturing a villain and, with a character that so little is known about, this is his time to shine with the ability to be able to add more lore around Darth Maul. Ross’s art really fits the book and I definitely look forward to seeing this creative team run off with Darth Maul.

My only downside to the book is Marvel sticking a $4.99 price tag on the book. Yes, it’s a #1, and yes there is a small bonus story by Chris Eliopoulos and Jordie Bellaire but I really think the $5 price will turn people away. If I wasn’t pulling EVERY Star Wars book, I would have probably passed on this book, but I’m glad I didn’t. And despite the $5 charge, I think you’ll greatly enjoy it too.

Summary from Comixology: “It has all built up to this! Vader’s trials against Cylo’s creations! His machinations against the Emperor! His covert missions with Doctor Aphra and her murderous droids! All comes to fruition in an ending you can’t miss!” (Not from Comixology but should be stated immediately, that cover is f*cking awesome.)

Darth Vader has been my favorite of all the Star Wars books since it’s release in February of last year. Darth Vader #25 is the perfect end to one of the best books being published. This book is a lot like Breaking Bad, I’m saddened that it had to come to an end, but I’m glad it didn’t drag out and become a chore to keep up with (*cough* Son’s Of Anarchy *cough*). Kieron Gillen understood the character of Darth Vader so well that he makes it completely unbelievable that Hayden Christensen could become the Sith Lord.

This issue was full of perfect conclusions for a 25 issue long story. My fellow 4LN writer Stephen Andrew and I agree that Vader Down had one of the most BRUTAL comic book lines in a long time, but I now believe that the most brutal line of Darth Vader was said in this final issue. There are two moments in this book that left my jaw literally hanging open because I just couldn’t believe how ruthless Darth Vader truly is. I want to go into detail, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers that will take away from the experience of reading this issue.

From beginning to end, Salvador Larroca’s art has been absolutely prepossessing and captures the grandness of space and Star Wars. From epic outer space light saber battles to intimate character designs, Larroca has thoroughly brought Darth Vader back to life in comics. When it comes to writing a villain, Kieron Gillen is truly one of the best writers for that bracket of characters. Gillen does a fantastic job of writing part of a story that we all know (I.E. Vader can’t die yet because we aren’t at Return Of The Jedi yet), but still leaving suspense and wonder with what will happen with all characters involved. Looking back on this book now that it’s over, I couldn’t think of a better creative team for it. Gillen and Larroca truly worked elegantly together.

From issue one to twenty-five, Darth Vader has been one hell of a roller-coaster and full of surprises. I am really disappointed to see my preferred Star Wars book come to an end, but I’m also excited for whatever becomes the next on-going Star Wars book (crossing my fingers for Boba Fett or Kylo Ren).

Thanks for 25 distinguished issues of Darth Vader Salvador Larroca & Kieron Gillen. If you haven’t been reading Darth Vader, now is not the best jumping on point, since this is the epic conclusion; but, you will not be disappointed if you hunt down the previous issues (or trades) because they will be entirely worth the price. In my honest unabashedly biased opinion, this is one of the best final issues from Marvel. Ever.

Also, the book is $5.99 which really blows, but it is more pages than a typical issue, and part of that is an epic mini issue in the back about Darth Vader slaughtering Tusken Raiders while killing time on Tattooine waiting for a couple bounty hunters. Made it worth the extra couple dollars.

It’s true—all of it! The biggest movie of the year jumps from the big screen to the comic book page! It’s been three decades since the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star and toppled the Galactic Empire…but now, on the remote planet of Jakku…there is a stirring in the Force. A young scavenger named Rey…a deserting stormtrooper named Finn…an ace pilot name Poe…and a dark apprentice named Kylo Ren…Their lives are about to collide as the awakening begins.

When I was a kid, my dad took me to a comic book shop in Nashville. It was an awesome store on Broadway that was full of old comics, records, collectibles, and all sorts of riff-raff. While I was digging through the long boxes (not really sure what I was doing), I happened upon a random copy of Marvel’s official comic adaptation of “Return of the Jedi.” I was so excited that I had bought a piece of the story with my own allowance. Come to think of it, that might have been my first comic book purchase. This was in my formative fanboy years of my love for Star Wars, and I read through that part of the story multiple times, just reliving the movie (which I could’ve easily just watched on VHS).

Personally, that is one thing that drew me to this book. It was like reliving that moment when I was eight digging through boxes, but I also enjoy what this book is. It allows the reader to view one of their favorite stories in a different medium. It lets you linger on an image, flip back and forth, and just absorb more than you would simply watching the film with a group of friends. Trust me, people get really annoyed when you skip back a few scenes to catch a piece of dialogue again. I did the same thing with the book adaptation. You just catch different things viewing a story from a different perspective.

All of that baggage aside, this book is solid in its own right. It’s written by Chuck Wendig, who previously penned Star Wars: Aftermath – a novel that was a part of the “Journey to The Force Awakens.” I wasn’t a huge fan of his brusque style in Aftermath. Don’t get me wrong, his writing is great, as was the story, it just wasn’t my particular taste. That being said, his ability to give a lot of information if very few words works out well in this book.

Since this is an adaptation it is basically the key moments of The Force Awakens, with minimal introductions by the writer. His main job is making sure the lines from the movie make a good transition from screen to panel, and it matches up perfectly. This particular issue starts with Poe on Jakku kneeling before Kylo Ren, and ends right before the heroes jump in the Millennium Falcon to escape the planet.

One thing that really stood out to me was Frank Martin’s color art. They are just so vibrant and really pop off the page. Luke Ross’ characters match their onscreen counterparts. It did seem that sometimes the artist paid more attention to the details in the environment and vehicles than he did the characters faces, which leads to some of the panels having simplistic caricatures, but overall he is spot on. Another thing I noticed is that Hux is depicted as a little more manly than Mr. Weasley portrays him, not that it matters either way, he just has a more intimidating presence under the hand of Luke Ross than in the film. Oh, and can we just talk about how awesome Esad Ribic’s cover is? Sweet Maker, that thing is pretty.

Like I said earlier, this book will appeal to fans of the film, Star Wars in general, and comic lovers. It is always fun to see something in a different art form, and this book didn’t feel like a cheap adaptation for a quick buck. They took their time, really found the meat of the story, and adapted it to a new medium. I give this book 4 and a half severed limbs out of 5. Make sure you head down to your shop and grab yours today!

Summary from Comixology: “Everyone’s favorite scoundrel gets his very own series! Han is given a top-secret undercover mission for the Rebellion- rescuing a number of informants and spies. His cover for the assignment? Only the biggest and most infamous starship race in the galaxy! You know- the race Han has dreamt of winning his entire life. Will he keep his mind on the mission? And can he manage to pull it off while keeping the lead? Best-selling author Marjorie Liu (X-MEN) comes to the Galaxy Far, Far Away along with superstar cover artist Mark Brooks (ULTIMATE X-MEN) in his return to interior art! Face it, readers- there aren’t enough scoundrels in your life!”

I’ve been fairly excited for this book. Ever since the announcement of the new Star Wars books, I think everyone has been anxiously waiting for a new Han Solo story. After the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens I personally feel like I need to know even more than I already do about the life and times of Han Solo. Han Solo #1 does a wonderful job capturing the mood, look, and attitude of our favorite scoundrel.

Marjorie Liu does a superb job at matching the tone the original movies. The book takes place after he was awarded his money for rescuing Leia and then destroying the Death Star, which has made him one of the most wanted men in the galaxy. This is why Han remains so reluctant to help the Rebellion again. After some convincing, Solo decides to help save three rebels under the disguise of being a pilot in the race he’s always dreamed of winning: The Dragon Void.

Mark Brooks, this books artist, is absolutely incredible. His work looks almost identical to the characters in the movie, it’s great seeing such realistic looking characters in a comic book. Brooks also does a wonderful job with his attention to details and character designs. With such a vast universe of life forms, Brooks makes each supporting and background character look truly unique and rare, which is much needed in a Star Wars book.

If Han Solo is a character you love, or you are just looking for a new book to read, you are going to want to jump on this book. Liu and Brooks make a fantastic team, and do a wonderful job at capturing the tense and unknown feeling of watching the franchise for the first time. This is going to be one hell of a ride, and we are going to see if the Millennium Falcon will be able to run the Dragon Void as quick as it ran the Kessel Run.

Summary from Comixology – “New Story Arc! “END OF GAMES” begins this issue! Inspector Thanoth returns with some startling information. Vader may have passed his master’s tests…but will his own schemes prove his undoing? PLUS: A bonus tale of Triple-Zero and Beetee!”

Marvel’s STAR WARS titles have, for the most part, been phenomenal, with STAR WARS and DARTH VADER being the best of the bunch. Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca continue the streak with issue #20, which kicks off the “End of Games” story-line.

When I initially started reading this issue, I wasn’t planning on writing a review of it, but I just loved it. There were so many reasons fans of STAR WARS might be interested in this issue, even if they haven’t been reading this series regularly. First and foremost, we get to see the Super Star Destroyer “The Executor” under construction at the Kuat Drive Yards, which is Darth Vader’s capital ship as seen in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. I’m not going to lie, I nerded out for a while staring at that panel. I mean, Larroca’s artwork on that two-page spread was worth the price of admission alone.

Most of the issue is centered on a one-sided conversation between Darth Vader and Emperor Sheev Palpatine. Sheev details how he rose to power and purged the galaxy of weakness, destroyed the Jedi, and how he forced a traitor to overplay their hand in order for Vader to cut him down. Despite having very little action (other than the short story in the back, which I will get into later) Gillen, and the rest of the creative team, are so good they make a conversation about political subterfuge entertaining.

I was also really impressed with Larroca’s ability to depict the Emperor’s most popular, facial expressions. The way his piercing eyes stood in contrast to his simple, black robes was unnerving, and there were several expressions that were pulled right out of the films. Oh, and if you are a fan of Triple Zero and Beetee, this issue includes a solo story featuring the two murderbots as well. It’s always fun to see Triple Zero and Beetee since they are the antithesis of of Threepio and Artoo.

This issue was one of the best issues in Marvel’s modern STAR WARS titles. Despite having almost no action, and practically running solely on dialog, I loved every second of it. Gillen and Larroca make a great team, and they get it. They aren’t heavy handed with their references, but add just enough to keep STAR WARS devotees excited. Make sure you pick this issue up. It’s not imperative that you read issues 1-19 to understand what’s going on, and it just might make a believer out of you.

Summary from Comixology: “Master and Padawan find themselves stranded on an unfamiliar world…a world of strange, primitive technology and dangerous natives. But even if they can save themselves…why were they called to this world?”

I have been reading every single Star Wars book, (except for Kanan: The Last Padawan, which I’m frantically trying to collect all of them now) and Charles Soule has written my favorite one so far, Lando. But, for some reason, Obi-Wan and Anakin just isn’t holding my interests as much as previous books. I believe it has nothing to do with Soule’s writing, since he’s one of my favorite writers, but rather Marco Checchetto’s art, and I think it’s safe to say that, my fellow 4LN writer, Cameron felt the same way about issue #1.

This book takes place between episode I and II, and we have a 12 year old Anakin in the field with his Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The strongest thing about this book was Soule’s ability to capture both Obi-Wan and Anakin. This is a time before Anakin questions his master, and they truly seem more like brothers, and you can clearly tell how much Anakin looks up to Obi-Wan, specifically with my favorite quote of the comic, “That is my Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, there is no one better.”

This series revolves around Anakin and Obi-Wan visiting an off world planet, Carnelion IV, and they realize there is a generations long war going on, between two feuding sides: The Open, and the Closed. Besides these two groups of people, Obi and Annie must fight off a wave of mindless creatures called the Corpse-Leeches, that Obi tries to control via The Force, but Anakin struggles with this ability. The book also includes a great flashback scene that shows how Anakin and Chancellor Palpatine first met; including a trip to the lower levels of Coruscant. This was one of those few moments I wanted to yell at Obi-Wan and say “You are making a terrible decision! DON’T DO THIS!” But I would have looked pretty silly yelling a comic book in this crowded Starbucks… again.

With all this said, my dislike of the art was outweighed by my love of Obi-Wan and Charles Soule as a writer. If you are a fan of Star Wars, then once again, Marvel is putting out a quality book that you need to read. The collector in me would and will read anything Star Wars, but I’m glad Marvel hasn’t dipped in quality with all the different books. This run is only 5 issues long, so head to Comix City Too! if you are in the Nashville area and pick up issues #1 & 2!

Listen, I could sit here and try to dribble out some well-thought-out assessment of The Force Awakens, with pretty and sophisticated words that make me look smarter than I actually am. But I can’t do that. I can’t do that because I literally just finished watching it and my brain is a mess and all I want to do is race back to the theater and watch it again. IT’S SO GOOD.

This is a non-spoiler review, so I’ll not be revealing any major plot details. However, suffice to say, most of the rumors you’ve heard are completely false, and a few of them are true. While there are a few twists and turns that will surprise you, most of the “big reveal” stuff isn’t really handled like it’s that big of a reveal anyway. They’ve done a fantastic job of crafting a film that doesn’t rely on the twists or reveals. The story is solid and the plot moves along at a perfect pace. It’s got great action, beautiful cinematography, and it’s really funny. Like, REALLY funny. That was something I wasn’t quite expecting. I knew there would be some laughs, but I had no idea I’d be laughing as much as I was.

One of the reasons the movie is so funny, is the new, adorable little droid that’s taken the globe by storm, BB-8. Much like R2-D2 before him, BB has a personality all his own, and its… spunky. Is “spunky” the right word? Hang on… … … … I just looked it up on Dictionary.com and yes, it is the right word. I kind of hoped BB-8 would be the new Groot or Baymax, and, as is the case with both of those other characters, BB is more than just cute, comic relief. Yes, The little guy practically steals the show, but he’s also actually crucial to the plot, and serves a very import purpose. The Star Wars movies have always been good about making sure that non-sentient (or less-sentient) characters get to play a bigger roles, and this time around is no exception.

The cast of the film is phenomenal. I mean, you already know that Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are gonna deliver as Leia and Han, but the new cast is absolutely flawless as well, and completely hold their own next to the veterans. Specifically, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, who play Rey and Finn, respectively. Boyega, you’ll remember, was at the very center of the unnecessarily heated “A Black Stormtrooper?!?!?!?!” controversy. Thankfully, he’s so much more than that and it’s great to finally see a little background on the Stormtroopers.

Ridley’s portrayal of Rey made me very happy. I thought to myself, “Now this a character I would actually WANT my daughter to look up too.” She’s tough, independent, smart, and resourceful. She’s full of curiosity and she doesn’t take anybody’s shit. I just loved her so much. She’s almost a better role model than even Princess Leia was, and that’s saying something.

The main name on everyone’s lips though… is the new villain Kylo Ren. I’ve personally been obsessed with the character ever since pictures of him began to pop up online, and even my 8 year old son has been fascinated by him. Kylo is played by Adam Driver and I will give you one spoiler about him… HE’S NOT LUKE F*@#ING SKYWALKER. (Seriously, whoever started that rumor is a complete moron.) One thing I really appreciated is that the character shows a lot more complexity and depth than Darth Vader did in any of the original trilogy films. Frankly, he’s better than any of the villainous characters from the second trilogy as well. I can safely say I was not disappointed in how the character turned out.

Just to clarify, there is no mid-credits or post-credits scene. Trust me. I stayed until the very end just so I could tell you that in total confidence.

Also, for those of you wondering if it’s safe to take your kids to see, I took my 8 year old son and he loved it. It obviously has some violence, but I didn’t notice any thing serious that concerned me. I will say… not to spoil… but there was a moment in the movie that made him very upset and he got damn-near inconsolable. So, you know, be prepared for that potentially with your own kids if you take them.

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Look, I don’t have to tell you to go see The Force Awakens. You’re going to go see it. You’re going to go see it right this minute, if you haven’t already, and you’re going to see it many, many times. It absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, lives up to the hype, and then some. It’s perfect in every way and it will not let you down. See it you must! Now you should go!

Overview from Comixology: “The first crossover of Star Wars’ new Marvel age continues here! Vader vs. all the Rebels…it’s not a fair fight!”

This is part two of the 6 part crossover event, Vader Down, and my God is it off to a great start. If you haven’t read Vader Down #1, you are really missing out. To fully appreciate this issue, it’s mandatory that you read Vader Down #1. I mean, why read a crossover event and skip the first issue? This issue is a blast, and one of the fastest reads that I have ran across in a long time. The issue starts with Vader just slaughtering Rebel scum, and I can’t think of a better way to start a comic. From beginning to end, this issue is full of action and suspense, and I can’t stress how quick of a read it was. And that’s not a bad thing, so much was happening that the issue flew by like the Millennium Falcon doing the Kessel Run (I know that was cringy. I couldn’t help it.)

I personally think that Darth Vader is the best Star Wars book being published right now, and this has nothing to do with the fact that I have a Darth Vader tattoo, it’s just the most badass of the Star Wars books. I mean, who doesn’t like reading and watching Vader do secret mission and hunt down the terrorist known as the Rebel Alliance? I think Kieron Gillen does a fantastic job at capturing the feel of Vader, and I honestly can’t think of a writer who could do as well as he has on this book. Not only does he capture the feel of Vader, but he also brings Solo and Leia to the page in a great way.

When it comes to the fight scenes, and action in this issue, Salvador Larroca does a great job making you feel like you are actually in the middle of the firefight, and the use of reds and oranges makes the tone much darker and more warlike. It’s awesome seeing Darth Vader in hand to hand combat with an entire battalion of rebel soldiers. And, just like in Vader Down #1, Darth is just full of amazing quotes, and one liners from Vader. I am also extremely curious to see if anything comes from the Jedi temple that Luke found on the planet of Vrogas Vos. I hope in one issue of the crossover, either Luke or Vader will explore the ruins.

If you are a fan of Star Wars, and can’t seem to get a big enough fix before The Force Awakens comes out, then you need to do yourself a favor pick up Vader Down #1, and Darth Vader #13. You’ll get some badass Darth Vader, awesome Star Wars action, and you’ll get to experience what maybe the best crossover event of the year. Come back next week for our review of Star Wars #13, which will be the third part of Vader Down. And, let us know what you think of this issue in the comments below.

Summary from Comixology: “When Darth Vader accidentally finds himself facing off against the Rebel Fleet on his own, the rebels will learn the true strength of the Dark Side of the Force! Once Vader crashes on a nearby planet, the Rebellion is willing to risk everything for this once-in-a-lifetime chance to take out one of their biggest enemies! Luke! Vader! Leia! Aphra! Han! Chewie! And all manner of Droid, good and evil!”

Vader Down is a crossover event I can get behind. Star Wars and Darth Vader have both been spectacular thus far, and Vader Down, written by Star Wars scribe Jason Aaron, is no exception. This book fires on both ion engines and goes from zero to TIE Fighter shrieking in no time at all. The fight between Vader and the X-Wing squadron was enthralling the entire time. It’s neat to see Vader’s piloting skills from his Anakin Skywalker days come back in full force (unless you are a Rebel pilot), and when they finally confront him on the planet of Vrogas Vos, Vader throws out one of the most badass one-liners in the Star Wars franchise. This book sets out to prove that Vader is not to be trifled with even if you have an army at your back.

Jason Aaron is one of the best writers in comics, and Vader Down proves it. All of the different comics have been fantastic so far, but this might be the single greatest book of the new Disney/Star Wars era. The story, from beginning to end, was a page-turning, edge-of-your-seat showdown featuring a woefully outnumbered Vader who unleashes hell on his would-be captors. The dialogue felt genuine, and I loved all the comm chatter between the X-Wing squadron. It felt exactly like the A New Hope Death Star attack.

Equally as impressive (most impressive) was Mike Deodato’s art. There were several pages that made my jaw drop from sheer amazement. When Vader enters the Vrogas Vos system there is a full page spread (shown above) that is some of the coolest Star Wars art I’ve ever seen anywhere this side of the Ralph McQuarrie concept art for the original films. The book costs $4.99 and even if the amazing story wasn’t there it would still be worth it.

Do your inner Star Wars nerd a favor and get this book. Everything about it was fun and engaging. If you want to see Vader unleash on a group of Rebels, it’s time to buckle up and enjoy the drive.